Shedding means for circular looms for weaving



July 19, 1949. H. J. COOPER ,3

SHEDDING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR LOOMS FOR WEAVING Filed Dec 16, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ac/Mm 6W wem Inventor Bv 31M, S EW 1,. MW

Attorney July 19, 1949. J COOPER 2,476,357

SHEDDING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR LOOMS FOR WEAVING Filed Dec. 16, 1946 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F FIG] FIG 8 v M Inventor y fimmw 5am EBMLWUL Allorney July 19, 1949. H. J. COOPER 7 2,476,357 SHEDDING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR LOOMS FOR WEAVING' Filed Dec. 16, 1946 4 Sheets-$heet a A Homety July 19, 1949. H. J. COOPER 2,476,357

SHEDDING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR LOOMS FOR WEAVING Filed D90. 16, 1946 4 Sheets-$heet 4 M Wlnuentor By EMMW M 5:33

' Attorney Patented July 19, 1949 S-HEDDING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR poems 'FOR WEAVING Henry James Cooper, High Lana near s be e t En and Application December 16, 1946, Serial No, In Great Britain January 12, late 1 Qlai s- 3 4.

This invention relates to shedding means for circular looms for weaving.

It is already known in shedding means for circular looms for weaving to mount oscillatabl e shedding members on a fixed ring which is 'circular in cross-section.

The plurality of simultaneously operative weft inserting members usually provided in a circular loom in order to obtain a greater rate of weaving than is possible with a non-circular loom, demands a relatively great frequency and speed of shedding of the warp threads.

The main object of my invention is to provide a novel construction of shedding means which enables a relatively great frequency and speed of shedding to be achieved without material vibration whilst also enablingalarge number and close spacing of warpthreads to be used.

Shedding means for circular looms for weaving in accordance with my invention has oscillatable shedding blades and spacers mounted on a member which has a projection or projections whereby it can be supported in position in the mom, the arrangement being such that the projection or projections are of sufilcient dimensions to ensure adequate ireedorn from vibration when the loom is in operation, while at the same time the shedding blades cannot become separated from the member during operation, but can be moved into operating position when the loom is being set up without dismantling the member or its supporting projection or projections from the loom.

I attain the said object by the meansillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a detached, fragmentary view in radial section showing shedding blades, spacers and their mounting.

Figure 2. a P aine ther Figure 3 is a ide ele etlqn o a sh d i Ple Figures 4, 5 and 6 are irontelevations of parts of shedding blades.

Figure 7 is a front view oi a spacer.

Figure 8 is a sideelevation thereof.

Figure 9 is aplan view drawn to a different scale and showing more or-less diagrammatically how the shedding blades and spacer-s are located on a circularloom.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan-view of part of a cam ring which can be used tooperate the shedding blades.

Figures '11 and r2 arediflierentviews in radial section-of thecamgring andsomeof the shedding blades drawn itoanother scale.

F re is a p a view of a a ring o a other constructiom V Figures 14 and 15 are views in difierent radial sections of the last nained cam ring drawn to a different scale and showing modified shedding blades.

Referring to the drawings, in the construction shown in Figures 1 to 9, as applied to a circular loom for weaving non-tubular fabric and having a rotary member for'driving a plurality of weft inserting members 1; shown diagrammatically in Figure 9, airmen a radial warp, I provided a horizontal bearing ring 2 of circular cross-section which has a. gap or break in its continuity; and therefore is airing segment, and a radial rib or projection 3 extendinground'its outer side or periphery. The projection; may be attached to the ring 2 by securing it in a peripheral slot therein or by forming it integral therewith. The ring 2 is .flged in"position'in the loom by securing the projection 3 to any suitable number of brackets 4, of which five are shown in Figure 9, or other suitable stationary part or part-s so as to be at a higher elevation thana cam ring 5 carried by th rotary member; The projection 3 may be discontinuous, ile; may consist of a series of projections; sarong as the dimensions of these are adequate "to ensure freedom from undue vibration in dperatio'ri. If the th is for weaving a tubular fabric, the bearing ring'is of complete ring form-but has a small part of it removable to" enable the hereinafter described shedding blades and spacers to be threaded on to it. The bearing ring l! has threaded on it a plurality of pressed sheetmetal shedding blades 6 which are light in weight and alternate with pressed sheet metal'spacers 1 which are also threaded on to the bearing ring =2, the blades 6 and spacers 1 having threading holes Sand 9 respectively which are a sliding and rotary fit on the bearing ring 2. The hole of eachbladefi has a gap or slot Ill in its side to accommodate the projection 3 and enable the blade 6 .to rock .on the bearing ring 2. The hole 9 of each spacer I has a gap II in its side to accommodate the projection .3 which acts on the sides .of the gap H to prevent the spacer i from rocking. If the projection 3 is discontinuous other means must be provided to prevent the pac rs 1 from rcxzking- -'I;h blades 8 an spacers =1 areheld in juxtaposition to form a continuous pack extending round the bearing ring 2, each zblade'fi bein free-to oscillate between the adjacent spacers and all the blades 6 and spacerS .lbeing tree laterally-to assume their own correct lateral positions in the pack. Figure 9 3 shows the end blades 6 and spacers i of the pack. It will be observed that the projection 3 on the ring 2 enables the ring 2 to be secured at as many places as may be found desirable and stiifens the ring 2 very materially and therefore ensures a strong and vibration-resistant support for the shedding blades, Without in any respect interfering with the arrangement, spacing or ordering of the shedding blades and spacers or the close spacing thereof. The projection 3 also serves to prevent angular movement of the spacers. The mode of mounting of the ring 2 also makes removal and replacement of the blades and spacers in the same or a different order possible without disturbing the ring or its mounting. The pack of blades 6 and spacers are held against movement along the ring 2 by removable collars l2 on the ring 2 or other suitable means. v

The inner end of each blade has provided on it a pig-tail eye l3 composed of a helically coiled strip with its coils flattened so that the eye 13 is the same width as the blade.

Each blade has an integral, downward projection l4, hereinafter termed a horn, the lower end of which is adapted to be acted on by shedding cams provided at spaced distances apart on the cam ring 5, there being as many shedding cams provided round the cam ring as there are weft inserting members I. One shedding cam arrangement is illustrated in Figure 10. Each shedding cam has a shedding surface It: and a holding surface It. The cam ring has an annular surface I! which acts on the horns Hi to prevent the blades 6 from descending below the position which gives the lower line of the shed. For each shedding cam surface [5 the cam ring has a complementary cam surface I8 which acts on the horns M to control them whilst they are acted on by the shedding cam surface l5 and to return the horns 14 after the shedding action of the shedding cam.

Each shedding blade ti has a selecting nose, the position of which varies in difierent blades 6. For example, as shown there may be four different positions Of noses. One blade 6 has a nose l9, another a nose 20, another a nose 2!, and another a nose 22. These-positions repeat themselves in difierent blades 6 in an order suitable to the, pattern to be woven. In the gaps between adjacen't shedding cams there are a selecting cam surfaces 23, 24, 25 and 26 provided where necessary to produce the desired shed. The said cam surfaces cooperate with shoulders on the said noses and cause some of the blades, for example as shown in Figure 11; the blades 6 having the noses l9 and 2|, or as shown in Figure 12, the blades 8 having the noses and 22, to swing sufliciently to enable their horns ld'tc come under the action of the shedding surface lb of the succeeding shedding cam and thereby cause the corresponding blades 6 to be rocked into a position which gives the upper line of the shed. In the said gaps there are also cam surfaces 21', 28, 29 and 30 provided to hold against movement those blades 6 not selected by the cam surfaces 23, 24, 25 and 26 and thereby keep their-horns M from being accidentally acted on by the succeeding shedding cam surface 55. The cam surfaces 2'1, 28, 29 .and 3|] act on the backs of the noses I9, 20, 2| and-22. It is to be noted that the cam surface 11 extends across the said gaps. These cams, horns and noses enable the shedding operations necessary for plain and 'twill fabrics to be performed by suitable arrangements 4 of the selecting cam surfaces and ordering of the differently nosed shedding blades.

If only a fabric having a plain weave is required, the noses may be omitted and, for example as shown in Figures 13 to 15, the position of the horns 31 of some of the shedding blades be difierent from that of the others, those horns 3| on the first named blades, of which one is shown in Figure 14, engaging continuously a continuous shedding cam groove 32 and the horns of the second named blades, of which one is shown in Figure 15, engaging continuously a continuous shedding cam groove 33. The cam grooves 32 and 33 are provided on a shedding cam ring running beneath the bearing ring 2.

Although I have described means for operating the shedding blades it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the hereinbefore described means. Shedding blades mounted in the hereinbefore described manner lend themselves excellently to operation for example by shedding motions adapted to produce tappet, dobby and jacquard patterns of weaving.

Each spacer I has an upwardly projecting part 3d, so that when the spacers are in position on the bearing ring 2, the parts 34 form guides for the warp threads in the manner of a comb or reed and thereby assist in keeping the warp threads in order. To prevent the escape of the warp threads from between the parts 34 when the said threads are in the raised position, a. guide ring 35 is mounted on the said parts. In Figure 1 a warp thread is indicated by the reference numeral 33, the shedding blades 6 in that figure being shown in the raised position. The warp thread 36 is kept clear of its shedding blade, be ing held above the same, until it arrives at the end thereof. a

I claim:

1. Shedding means for circular looms for weaving comprising in combination a ring segment, warp thread shedding blades oscillatably mounted on the ring segment, an external rib provided on the ring segment and extending along its outer side from end to end for use in rigidly mounting the ring segment in the loom, radially disposed brackets secured to the rib for rigidly securing the said rib to the loom and thereby rigidly'mounting the ring segment in the loom, slots in the shedding blades through which the said rib projects, and means for shedding the warp by oscillation of the said warp thread shedding blades.

2. Shedding means for circular looms fol weaving comprising incombinationa ring segment, warp, thread shedding blades threaded and oscillatable on the ring segment, free spacing blades threaded on the ring and interspersed with the warp thread shedding blades, the spacing blades being free slidable lengthwise of the ring relative to one another, an external rib fixed to the ring segment and projecting from its outer side and extending from'end to end of the segment, stationary brackets disposed at the outer side of the ring segment and rib and connected to the ring segment by securement only to the rib at spaced intervals along it, slots in the'warp thread shedding blades having the rib projecting through them and giving the warp thread shedding blades freedom of oscillatory movement notwithstanding the presence of the rib, slots in the spacing blades having the rib projecting through them and fitting the rib closely for preventing rotation of the spacing blades on the ring segment, and means for shedding the warp threads by oscillation of the warp shedding blades.

3. Shedding means for circular looms for weaving, comprising in combination a ring segment, an external rib rigidly provided along the outer side of the ring segment for fixing it and therefore the ring in the loom, stationary fixing brackets disposed round the outer side of the ring segment and rib and secured to the rib only at a spaced distance from the ring, slotted warp thread shedding blades mounted oscillatably and slidably on the ring segment and radiating towards the centre of the loom, free, s1otted spacing blades mounted slidably but non-rotatably on the ring segment and rib, and projecting vertically above the ring segment, and a warp thread guide rod supported by the free spacing blades and slidable relative to the free spacing for retaining the warp threads in engagement with the free spacing blades without forcing the warp threads down on the shedding blades.

4. Shedding means for circular looms for weaving, comprising in combination, a ring segment, an external projecting rib on the ring segment, stationary, spaced brackets secured to and supporting the said rib and therefore the said ring segment, oscillatable warp shedding blades on the ring segment, pig-tail eyes secured to the ends of the shedding blades in an upwardly displaced position relative to the said end, and means for oscillating the shedding blades and thereby shedding the warp.

5. Shedding means for circular looms for weaving, comprising in combination a ring segment, a horizontal rib provided along the length of the ring segment at the outer side thereof, stationary brackets supporting the segmental ring by attachment to the said rib, oscillatable warp shedding blades provided on the segmental ring with their ends always nearest to the centre of the loom, a nose provided on each warp shedding blade, the noses on some of the warp shedding blades being disposed differently from those on others of the warp shedding blades, a horn provided on each shedding blade, a rotary cam beneath the segmental ring, an annular cam surface thereon for determining one end position of the warp shedding blades by co-operation with the said horns, spaced arcuate cam surfaces on the cam ring for holding warp shedding blades in the said position by co-operation with their horns, spaced actuating cam surfaces on the cams for rocking warp shedding blades into the other end position, cam surfaces on the cam complementary to the last named cam surfaces for controlling shedding blades by co-operation with the said horns during oscillation into the said other end position and subsequently returning them to the first named end position by co-operation with the said horns, and selecting cam surfaces provided on the cam between the spaced actuating cam surfaces for bringing by co-operation with individual noses, the horns of selected individual warp shedding blades under the action of the succeeding actuating cam surface, whereby the selected warp shedding blades only are oscillated into the said other end position and the unselected warp shedding blades are held in the first named end position.

6. Shedding means for circular looms for weaving, comprising in combination, a ring segment, warp shedding blades oscillatably mounted thereon, a continuous external longitudinal rib on the ring segment for its attachment to the loom, slots in the warp shedding blade accommodating the rib, noses on the warp shedding blades, some of the noses being differently disposed on their warp shedding blades than others of the noses on the warp shedding blades, a rotary cam beneath the ring segment, a plurality of circularly spaced selecting cam surfaces on the cam some of which co-operate with some of the said noses and others with others of the said noses for angularly displacing those warp shedding blades having the noses with which the selecting cam surfaces co-operate, identical horns provided on the warp shedding blades separately from the noses, and separate shedding cam surfaces provided on the cam and alternating with the selecting cam surfaces for oo-operation with the horns of only those warp shedding blades which are angularly displaced by the selecting cam surfaces Which lead the respective shedding cam surface and thereby oscillating only those warp shedding blades which have been preselected by means of their noses and the selecting cam surfaces.

7. Shedding means for looms for weaving, comprising in combination, a ring segment, an external rib extending along the ring segment from end to end thereof and disposed at the outer side of the ring segment for indirect mounting the ring segment, stationary brackets connected only to the rib at spaced distances away from the ring segment for supporting the ring indirectly in position in the loom, slotted warp shedding blades and differently s1otted spacer blades consisting of sheet metal pressings slidably mounted on the ring segment and forming a pack thereon, none of whose individual warp shedding blades and spacer blades is fixed longitudinally, and means on the ring segment at the ends of the said pack only for preventing the pack regarded as a whole from longitudinal displacement on the ring segment.

HENRY JAMES COOPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,626,411 Jabouley Apr. 26, 1927 2,042,703 Dreyfus June 2, 1936 2,042,704 Dreyfus June 2, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 327,099 Great Britain Mar. 25, 1930 

